Misdirected Activism

Dr. James Emery White argues, over at Crosswalk, that modern activist Christians too often spend their energies on petty or even destructive causes.  He brings up two particular examples (click here to read the article):

The first courtesy of New Beginnings Ministries Church in Warsaw, Ohio, that has taken it upon itself to travel seven miles down the road each weekend in order to visit the Foxhole strip joint. Once there, they block traffic, take photos of the license plates of customers, and then post them on their “shaming” site. Apparently there’s a fair amount of condemnation and verbal insult offered in the process.

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The second had to do with the new pastor of Kingdom Builders Church of Jesus Christ in Warner Robbins, Georgia. Upon enrolling his son in the ninth grade, the pastor found out the school’s mascot was a “demon.” He’s been collecting signatures of protest ever since, saying that a pitchfork-wielding mascot sends the wrong message to teens. “Hundreds of children gather into one place at one time chanting ‘Go Demons.’ It’s the equivalent of us gathering into a church on Sunday morning and shouting ‘Go, Jesus’ or ‘Hallelujah Jesus,’ the pastor maintains.

Certainly different people are going to be drawn to different causes and many causes are valid pursuits, but I think Dr. White is on to a legitimate problem.  Christians are often quick to seek out sin and attempt to demolish it, but this war-like attitude is not always appropriate.  Imagine if the Christian parents crusading to change their high school’s mascot instead focused on reaching out to the unchurched or helping the poor in their communities?

Don’t get me wrong – I strongly support Christian social and political activism.  In fact – we see far too little activism in society in general.  Unfortunately, some well-intentioned Christians fall into the error of making mountains out of molehills while ignoring the actual mountains.  There are many, many bigger political and social issues at stake in our communities, states, and nation than mascots.  There are better ways to use our time.

Too often, our only outreach is to bring other people into the church.  The Christians who recognize that we should do more only add on the duties of political activism in the forms of protests and boycotts.  While these things are great, we do have other cultural duties.  Christians are commanded to help the poor and needy, to seek the good of their neighbors, and to be hospitable in their communities.  We have duties outside of the walls of the church, and it is in these daily interactions that we can be a true witness to Christ.

Let me reiterate – I completely support political activism and church activities, but these things do not comprise the full duties of the Christian believer.  And when we see Christians railing against mascots, I can’t help but wonder if their efforts could be spent more wisely.